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Old 12-11-2020, 01:46 PM   #22 (permalink)
aerohead
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Celera 500 cross section

Its a 'laminar' form.
At altitude, under 'flight' conditions, high above Earth's boundary layer, an aircraft can operate under 'calm', sub-critical Reynolds number conditions.
If an aircraft is very smooth, in very rarified, low-density, low-viscosity air, it's possible to experience a laminar boundary layer and low surface friction drag, up to the location of 'first minimum pressure', which is code for maximum cross-section, as beyond that point, the LBL is now in an adverse pressure gradient of diverging streamlines, flow velocity reduction, and rising pressure, impossible for a LBL to survive. And the LBL immediately transitions to turbulent boundary layer ( TBL ) and concomitant high surface friction drag.
So the term ' laminar' only regards the forebody of the structure. Wings included.
So the trick is to 'delay' the location of minimum pressure by moving the thickness rearwards as much as is practical on these vehicles with tremendous surface area, compared to automobiles.
Shell Mileage Marathon, SAE Economy, World Solar Challenge, and IHPVA bicycle speed record vehicles can take advantage of this effect, as they essentially have sub-critical Reynolds number frontal areas at the speeds they compete at.
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